"Madison, are these all of the canvases?" Skylar asked Madison in her office. She had counted the canvases but they were only twenty-five instead of fifty. Where did the remaining twenty-five go?
"No, Miss Evans. The remaining are with Mr. Thompson. He's trying to put finishing touches on them" Madison replied. Skylar nodded and went back to her seat.
She stretches her body; she has been working all morning trying to get everything ready before the audition.
"Please Madison, help me write the names of the artist whose canvas is here" Skylar told Madison, handling her a file with a pen.
Madison collected it from her and got to work immediately. She wrote each names on the files and worked faster...
"I will leave you to it, let me go check on the conference room and I will bring the rest of the canvases that are with Mr. Thompson when I'm coming" Skylar told Madison who nodded.
Skylar took the elevator to the conference room. She was glad that the rest of the departments were helping her today. She never believes she would have been able to achieve this on her own.
She nodded to the lady who was rearranging the chairs to fit the circular form they wanted, thereby creating space for where the canvases will be hung on display.
"How is it going, Cynthia?" Skylar asked Cynthia as soon as she spotted her helping with the decorations.
"Don't ask. My bones are screaming for me to take a rest but I wouldn't want Mr. Thompson angry with me this morning. Moreover, I don't know why I'm getting tired like this over an audition. I don't know what I will do when it comes to the real show" Cynthia replied as she complained. Skylar could see the discomfort on her face.
"I thought so too, I keep telling myself that it's just an audition but why am I working my butt off? Why don't you take a rest then, I will deal with the boss myself" Skylar told Cynthia who smiled and immediately got down from the ladder.
Skylar turned to walk out of the door but Cynthia's voice stopped her as she turned to stare at Cynthia "Are you heading out to the boss?"
"Yes. I need to pick up some canvases in his office" Skylar nodded as she replied...
"Okay, please be careful. The boss has not been himself all morning. He got angry even at the slightest mistake" Cynthia warned Skylar who smiled at her and walked out of the door to the elevator that will take her to Vino's office floor...
She stepped out of the elevator and walked to stand in front of Vino's door as she exhaled. She was scared, this was the first time she will be alone with Vino in a room after their trip to Spain.
Skylar braced herself and knocked on the door, she waited patiently for his response. As soon as she heard the deep voice telling her to come in, Skylar opened the door and walked in...
"Good morning, Mr. Thompson. I came to collect the remaining canvases" Skylar told Vino immediately as soon as she stepped into his office.
"Sure Miss Evans. They are underneath my table, if you can help yourself" Vino replied looking into her eyes but Skylar's gaze was not on him but the tiny space between the table and Vino.
Her cheek coloured as she wondered how she was going to bend down to pick the canvases under his table. Vino saw the discomfort in her eyes and bent down to pick them up himself.
Though, he wanted to help himself to the view of her backside but he needed to talk to her later today, he wouldn't want to jeopardize his chance of going out with her.
"Here you are Miss Evans" Vino said as he handed the canvases to her. Skylar collected the canvases from him with a blush on her cheeks. She turned to leave the room but Vino's voice stopped her on her track.
"Miss Evans, is there any chance that you might be free tonight?" Vino asked her as Skylar watched him curiously.
Her first response was to tell him no, that she had a dinner date with a guy she just met but she decided against it. It might be a business meeting as always "Not at all sir. If I may ask why?"
"Nothing, just have a dinner meeting to attend but no date to go with. Was wondering if you could help me" Vino told her as he held her gaze, brown eyes boring into hazel ones.
Skylar broke eye contact first as she looked everywhere but him. She screamed at her body which always reacted whenever they were in the room together. Her mind and brain were reminding her of how she felt when he was inside her...
Skylar hands shoot up to fan herself as her eyes searched the office for a fan switch "Are you hot Miss Evans? But the room is fully air-conditioned, how can you be hot? Or do I make you hot?" Vino replied, winking at her as a knowing smile passed through his lips and spread across his face...
Skylar scoffed as she dropped her hands immediately. The nerves of this man! How can he read her mind so easily without even trying? "No, I'm not hot. And about the dinner meeting, why don't you go with Camille since she's your girl______"
"We broke up," Vino answered, cutting her off. He ran his hands through his hair "I mean, I broke up with her. So, you can see Miss Evans that I'm single"
Skylar nodded as she forced the smile from spreading across her face. She turned to stare out of the door "I have to go now Mr. Thompson, the audition is about to start" She ran out of the room, the sound of Vino's chuckling caused her to smile as she rode the elevator to her office.
Her heart skips a beat for every step she takes. It was so exciting that it nearly burst. She opened the door and got into her office.
"Here, Madison" Skylar handed the canvases to Madison who collected it from her.
"Please write down the names and bring them to the conference room. The audition is about to start. I will send Cynthia to come help you" Skylar told Madison. She took her blazer and purse and stepped out of the door.
"Yes ma'am" Madison nodded with a wink causing Skylar to laugh as she stepped out of her office, walking to the conference room.
Immediately Skylar stepped into the conference room, she searched around for Cynthia. She saw her standing behind the door. Skylar immediately went to her and whisper in her ear "Please go help Madison bring down the canvases"
Cynthia nodded and stepped out of the door. Skylar walked to take her seat while the judges were getting set to start. Most of the artists were present as they had to say a brief word about their paintings...
The artists were now narrowed down to thirty, Skylar was getting tired. She wished the audition would end soon. Her eyes found Vino across the room where he was deep in conversation with Mr. Falcone.
She couldn't help wondering what they will be discussing today at the dinner meeting. She remembered their last dinner meeting with the Ernestos. She still hasn't found time to call Paula, she hopes Paula will forgive her when she finally does call her.
Vino sensed Skylar's eyes on him, turned and their eyes met. He could feel the usual sexual tension between them. Skylar's lips parted as she sulked in breath. Vino gulped as his eyes narrowed in acknowledgement. He wanted to take her there and then but he had to control himself, Skylar's body is only for his eyes only.
Skylar forced her eyes from him and turned to see Mr. Falcone walking over the stage "Thank you for that wonderful audition. It's been a while since I last saw such exquisite paintings, every stroke of the brush and little attention to details captivate me. I can't wait to see you all make a name for yourself in the art world" Mr. Falcone told the artists who all smiled.
Skylar gasped, the last time she clocked out on them, they were on thirty, how then were they able to finish to fifty without her being aware of it. That's what Vino does to her, she must be weary of him, he's a dangerous man. She turned to glare at his dominating back.
"With the audition concluded. We are sorry to announce that only thirty of you were picked. Though initially, we wanted twenty but these paintings are so intriguing that we couldn't help including it. The result will be communicated to you through your email addresses. Have a nice day and thank you for coming" Mr. Falcone concluded his vote of thanks as we all applauded.
Skylar stood up and was about to leave the room but a painting caught her eyes. She walked gently down to the painting and ran her hands down the canvas. Skylar would know the painting anywhere in the world. Her eyes scan the painting and it settles on the tiny name at the edge of the canvas. Skylar sucks in breath as her chest constricts.
"I was curious to see the man who has once caught your eyes but it's a pity that he wasn't available" Vino's voice got to Skylar as she turned to glare at him. If only he knew how much she hated Leon, he wouldn't be proposing to meet him.
"Leon is not an upcoming artist, Mr. Thompson. The program today was about upcoming artists, not those that have made a name for themselves" Skylar told him, her voice quivering slowly in anger as she fought to control her emotions.
Vino's eyes widened in shock, he stared at Skylar's clenched fist as his eyes found their way back to her eyes. He didn't know that bringing her ex-painting to the audition could exert such a response in her. His shoulder dropped as he regret his actions "I'm Sorry Miss Evans, I was just curious and_____"
"Curiosity, they say killed the cat, Mr. Thompson. Hope you will keep that in mind next time when you are curious" With that Skylar stepped out of the conference room with the painting in her hands. Her angry stride carried her to the elevator, where she rode to her office.
Immediately Skylar got to her office, she knew there was trouble as she could hear Madison arguing vehemently with someone in her office. Skylar forced her legs to walk faster, she opened the door and stopped short. Her anger that was almost down came back in full force as Skylar glared at the woman in front of her.
"What are you doing here?" Skylar asked her, Skylar's teeth seething as she tried to control her anger.
Camille stepped out from behind Skylar's table with her hands folded across her chest and she walked closer to Skylar "I'm just curious. I wanted to see what you have that I did not have" Camille replied as she circled around Skylar like a predator checking out his prey.
Skylar stood her ground with her fist clenched, she refused to back down for a spoiled woman like Camille. She bet she hasn't been told no before, that's why she can't handle break up so easily. Her only embarrassment was Madison listening to them...
"Everything was good until you came along. I wonder what he sees in you, you whore" Camille swore angrily as she picked up the bottle of wine she had discarded on the table. She pulls the content on Skylar causing Skylar to scream.
"What is the meaning of this Camille?" Skylar shouted at her.
"That's a warning for you to stay away from Vino else____" Camille paused and let her sentence hang in the air. She scrutinized her handwork with a smile on her face.
"What's going on here?" Vino's deep voice laced with anger caused Camille to cowered from fear. She had never seen Vino this angry before. She was starting to regret acting with her emotions instead of her head.
Vino took in the red colour of Skylar's drenched dress which was starting to drop on the floor. Vino turned to growl at Camille "How dare you walk into my company and insult my woman? Security, take this woman away" Two men in security uniform rush to Camille and manhandle her out of Skylar's office.
Vino walked closer to Skylar and held her hands "I'm sorry Skylar. Camille is always coolheaded; I don't know what is wrong with her now"
Skylar forced her hands off Vino's, she picked up her bag and car keys "If you would excuse me Mr. Thompson I would like to go home and change out of my dress. See you at the dinner meeting" With that Skylar strolled out of the room into the elevator. She got into her car and drove home...